The pitcher who may be the best prospect in the White Sox organization threw Monday against South Africa, not Detroit. Jon Rauch, who at 6 feet 11 inches looks down on Randy Johnson, blew away South Africa. He struck out 13 in an 11-1 U.S. victory in a game that was cut short because of the Olympic 10-run mercy rule. Rauch showed no mercy. He actually struck out four batters in the...

Mets 2, Nationals 0: Ike Davis belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning and Jonathon Niese tossed 7 1/3 sizzling frames as visiting New York mustered just three hits but prevented Washington from moving 30 games over .500. After striking out the side in the sixth inning, Edwin Jackson (7-8) issued a lead-off walk in the seventh to David Wright. Davis then promptly deposited Jackson's first-pitch fastball over the wall in left-center for an opposite-field home run. The ball landed in the Mets' bullpen...

Pirates 5, Mets 4: A costly three-base error in the eighth inning provided the difference as Pittsburgh rallied from a four-run deficit at home. Mets center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who had just entered the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the inning, misplayed a fly ball that allowed leadoff hitter Neil Walker to get all the way to third base. After a Casey McGehee groundout, Clint Barmes lifted a fly ball deep enough to right to score Walker with what proved to be the winning run. Jared...

What should the White Sox do with pitcher Jon Rauch? 57% Or 438, said trade him while 43.4 percent (336) said let him stay with the organization. 774 total responses at ChicagoSports.com--Tribune sports department Web site

1. Rays (2): Maybe the back end of the bullpen could be better. But this is a solid, complete team that has fun playing together. 2. Yankees (1): Terrible Aprils for Javy Vazquez, Mark Teixeira. 3. Twins (5): Jon Rauch finally blew a save Saturday at Kansas City but wound up getting the win. No starting pitcher has thrown more than 104 pitches. 4. Cardinals (3): Brad Penny remains a revelation working with Dave Duncan. His gem at San Francisco on Sunday included 12 ground-ball outs.

Carl Everett is back with the White Sox. Was this a good trade? 57% or 2,308, said yes because the Sox need to make some moves to reach the playoffs, while 43.5 percent (1,777) said it was a bad move because Everett is having a bad year and they hate to see Jon Rauch and Gary Majewski go. 4,085 total responses at ChicagoSports.com--Tribune Sports department Web site

Rookie shortstop Alcides Escobar is the biggest reason the Brewers looked as solid this spring as any team in Arizona. He entered the weekend error-free in 19 games, helping Milwaukee allow only 10 unearned runs, which matched the Twins' total as the majors low. Escobar also was continuing the hitting that helped him win a batting title in Venezuela, justifying his standing as a Rookie of the Year candidate. … Rangers first baseman Chris Davis left a...

SPLASH DOWN Eric Anduri, the 30-year-old who threw a cup of beer on New York Yankee Jason Giambi in Oakland, has been charged with misdemeanor battery and could face six months in jail and/or a $2,000 fine. HURTIN' TIME The slumping Washington Nationals made nine roster moves Thursday and have a major-league high 10 players on the disabled list, including former Sox pitcher Jon Rauch.

White Sox fans should pay close attention to Jon Rauch during the Olympics. At 6 feet 11 inches, the Sox's pitching prospect could figure big in the U.S. gold-medal bid. Baseball America magazine recently named Rauch the minor-league pitcher of the year. U.S. manager Tommy Lasorda seconded the endorsement. "When I saw him warm up, I said, `Wow,"' Lasorda said. "He brought the fastball up there in a hurry, and he's got outstanding breaking stuff. He's going to be a star." Rauch...

1. Sammy Sosa His early departure from Wrigley Field on the Cubs final game of the 2004 season is well documented. It was the final straw for Cubs management and led to Sosa's departure. 2. Randy Moss With two seconds left in Minnesota's loss to the Washington Redskins on Jan. 2, the receiver left the field and headed for the locker room while the team lined up to try an onside kick. That was his final straw with Vikings management, who traded him to Oakland. 3. Frank Thomas ...

Jason Grilli has thrown the ball well, as have Mike Jackson and Jon Rauch, and Juan Uribe "has shown up on fire," according to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. But that was last week. As far as Guillen is concerned, Monday is "when the party starts." Monday's intrasquad game is when Guillen will get a better evaluation of his players and what they can and can't do. Thursday the Sox will see different uniforms when the Cactus League season starts. "I can't wait,"...

SPLASH DOWN Eric Anduri, the 30-year-old who threw a cup of beer on New York Yankee Jason Giambi in Oakland, has been charged with misdemeanor battery and could face six months in jail and/or a $2,000 fine. HURTIN' TIME The slumping Washington Nationals made nine roster moves Thursday and have a major-league high 10 players on the disabled list, including former Sox pitcher Jon Rauch.

Jon Rauch and Aaron Rowand shared the spotlight Thursday, but for this week's four-game series split with the Cleveland Indians, the White Sox's main man had to be Jose Valentin. The Sox might have been swept if it had not been for the timing of Valentin's 13th and 14th home runs of the season. In Thursday's 7-1 victory, he injected rookie Rauch with confidence when he smashed 426-foot three-run homer to dead center in the first inning. Tuesday night Valentin climaxed an 11-9 Sox...